Karen McCombie – författare

Sisters – one of the closest relationships in the world? Megan and Sarah would not agree…MEGAN'S STORY: Megan is constantly in her big sister's shadow. Prettier, smarter, funnier, Sarah has it all; the adoration of their parents, a great group of friends, talent, and – of course – Conor. Megan struggles to retain her identity as she tries to turn the tables on her lucky, gifted sibling. But is the pecking order ever going to change?SARAH'S STORY: Now we see the sisterly relationship from Sarah's point of view, and slowly, it begins to dawn on the reader that things are not quite as they seem. Could it be that Megan’s perspective is not quite as accurate as originally perceived?

Sisters – one of the closest relationships in the world? Megan and Sarah wouldn’t agree…MEGAN'S STORY: Megan is constantly in her big sister's shadow. Prettier, smarter, funnier, Sarah has it all; the adoration of their parents, a great group of friends, talent, and – of course – Conor. Megan struggles to retain her identity as she tries to turn the tables on her lucky, gifted sibling. But is the pecking order ever going to change?SARAH'S STORY: Now we see the sisterly relationship from Sarah's point of view, and slowly, it begins to dawn on the reader that things are not quite as they seem. Could it be that Megan’s perspective is not quite as accurate as originally perceived?

Sisters – one of the closest relationships in the world? Megan and Sarah wouldn’t agree…MEGAN'S STORY: Megan is constantly in her big sister's shadow. Prettier, smarter, funnier, Sarah has it all; the adoration of their parents, a great group of friends, talent, and – of course – Conor. Megan struggles to retain her identity as she tries to turn the tables on her lucky, gifted sibling. But is the pecking order ever going to change?SARAH'S STORY: Now we see the sisterly relationship from Sarah's point of view, and slowly, it begins to dawn on the reader that things are not quite as they seem. Could it be that Megan’s perspective is not quite as accurate as originally perceived?

Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right levelWhen Flora dreams of happiness, she doesn’t expect to be thrown on to the back of a great, black bull! But as Flora and the bull travel from glen to glen, is the silent beast all that he seems?Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction.Text type: A traditional taleCurriculum links: English: fairy stories, myths and legends; books from other cultures and traditionsThis book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Cousins Yasmin and Ruby have always been rivals, but both sides of the story are exposed in this cleverly composed clean-teen novella from Karen McCombie. Ruby can’t stand her “perfect” cousin Yasmin. Yasmin is pretty, popular and has a gorgeous boyfriend Max. She’s set to get excellent grades in her GCSEs and her parents won’t stop going on about how brilliant she is.Ruby always feel small and hopeless around Yasmin, and whenever she gets any attention, Yasmin tries to make sure the spotlight turns back to her.Or that’s how Ruby feels anyway. But is there another side to the story? Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading age of 7.

Alfie and Kat’s school trip takes an unexpected turn when they’re whisked back to a Viking village in this exciting time-slip adventure from bestselling author Karen McCombie. Things take a weird turn for Alfie and Kat when they get separated from the rest of their group on a school trip to the Viking Museum. The models around them start to come to life, and at first Kat is sure they’re being pranked for a TV game show.She urges Alfie to play along, and they take part in Viking village life – cooking, weaving and even digging a toilet pit. But will they ever be able to find their way back home? Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 7.

Cousins Yasmin and Ruby have always been rivals, but both sides of the story are exposed in this cleverly composed clean-teen novella from Karen McCombie. Ruby can’t stand her “perfect” cousin Yasmin. Yasmin is pretty, popular and has a gorgeous boyfriend Max. She’s set to get excellent grades in her GCSEs and her parents won’t stop going on about how brilliant she is.Ruby always feel small and hopeless around Yasmin, and whenever she gets any attention, Yasmin tries to make sure the spotlight turns back to her.Or that’s how Ruby feels anyway. But is there another side to the story?

Alfie and Kat’s school trip takes an unexpected turn when they’re whisked back to a Viking village in this exciting time-slip adventure from bestselling author Karen McCombie. Things take a weird turn for Alfie and Kat when they get separated from the rest of their group on a school trip to the Viking Museum. The models around them start to come to life, and at first Kat is sure they’re being pranked for a TV game show.She urges Alfie to play along, and they take part in Viking village life – cooking, weaving and even digging a toilet pit. But will they ever be able to find their way back home? Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 7.

Alfie and Kat's school trip takes an unexpected turn when they're whisked back to a Viking village in this exciting time-slip adventure from bestselling author Karen McCombie.Things take a weird turn for Alfie and Kat when they get separated from the rest of their group on a school trip to the Viking Museum. The models around them start to come to life, and at first Kat is sure they're being pranked for a TV game show.She urges Alfie to play along, and they take part in Viking village life - cooking, weaving and even digging a toilet pit. But will they ever be able to find their way back home?Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 7.

A bump on the head during a trip to Bath sees Gus whisked back to Roman times in this exciting time-slip adventure from bestselling author Karen McCombie. Mum has taken Gus and his big sister, Luna, on a family trip to Bath to find out more about the Romans, but while on the way to the Roman Baths, Gus bumps his head and is whisk ed 2,000 years back in time to Aquae Sulis.There, he meets Juno and Felix, and is soon working alongside them as a slave. Accompanying the Master on his daily trip to the Baths, Gus is plunged into a steaming world of cold plunges, sacred springs, flagons and strigils.But when he’s framed as a jewel thief, will Gus be able to escape and find his way back home? Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 7.

Angels Next Door is a gorgeous new magical friendship series for 8+ readers by bestselling author, Karen McCombie.Riley's best friend has gone away forever and Lauren 'Queen of Everything' Mayhew is making school a nightmare. It looks like Riley's on her own, until the three Angelos Sisters move in next door.Her new neighbours are . . . different. Colourful and sparkly, they stand out. It's not just their names or how they dress - there's something magical about them. And since they arrived there have been loads of strange coincidences.Who are these new girls and what's with all the glitter?'A wonderful, funny, heart-warming and comforting tale . . . will be a success with female readers aged 9 and upwards' The School LibrarianAbout the author:Bestselling author Karen McCombie trained as a magazine journalist in her native Scotland before moving to London. After several years working on teen favourites Just 17 and Sugar, she turned to fiction, with her first series, Ally's World, becoming an instant success. In total she's had more than 70 books published and translated around the world, and more than a million books sold.Karen lives in North London with her very Scottish husband Tom, her sunshiney daughter Milly, a demented cat called Dizzy and Biscuit, the button-obsessed hamster.

Angels Next Door is a gorgeous new magical friendship series for 8+ readers by bestselling author, Karen McCombie.Riley's best friend has gone away forever and Lauren 'Queen of Everything' Mayhew is making school a nightmare. It looks like Riley's on her own, until the three Angelos Sisters move in next door.Her new neighbours are . . . different. Colourful and sparkly, they stand out. It's not just their names or how they dress - there's something magical about them. And since they arrived there have been loads of strange coincidences.Who are these new girls and what's with all the glitter?'A wonderful, funny, heart-warming and comforting tale . . . will be a success with female readers aged 9 and upwards' The School LibrarianAbout the author:Bestselling author Karen McCombie trained as a magazine journalist in her native Scotland before moving to London. After several years working on teen favourites Just 17 and Sugar, she turned to fiction, with her first series, Ally's World, becoming an instant success. In total she's had more than 70 books published and translated around the world, and more than a million books sold.Karen lives in North London with her very Scottish husband Tom, her sunshiney daughter Milly, a demented cat called Dizzy and Biscuit, the button-obsessed hamster.www.karenmccombie.com

The second book in the gorgeous new magical friendship series, Angels Next Door, by bestselling author Karen McCombieRiley's life has changed a lot since she discovered the Angelos sister's secret. You see her new neighbours are a little bit . . . magical. They know things that no-one else does and that's why she thinks they can help her find out about mum.But just as she's about to get some answers, mysterious events start happening at school. As things get stranger and stranger, Riley begins to suspect that they're the only ones who can work out what or who is behind them.Who are these new girls and what's with all the glitter? 'A wonderful, funny, heart-warming and comforting tale . . . will be a success with female readers aged 9 and upwards' The School LibrarianAbout the author:Bestselling author Karen McCombie trained as a magazine journalist in her native Scotland before moving to London. After several years working on teen favourites Just 17 and Sugar, she turned to fiction, with her first series, Ally's World, becoming an instant success. In total she's had more than 70 books published and translated around the world, and more than a million books sold.Karen lives in North London with her very Scottish husband Tom, her sunshiney daughter Milly, a demented cat called Dizzy and Biscuit, the button-obsessed hamster.Also available: Angels Next Door, Angels in Training and don't miss Angels Like Me

The second book in the gorgeous new magical friendship series, Angels Next Door, by bestselling author Karen McCombieRiley's life has changed a lot since she discovered the Angelos sister's secret. You see her new neighbours are a little bit . . . magical. They know things that no-one else does and that's why she thinks they can help her find out about mum.But just as she's about to get some answers, mysterious events start happening at school. As things get stranger and stranger, Riley begins to suspect that they're the only ones who can work out what or who is behind them.Who are these new girls and what's with all the glitter? 'A wonderful, funny, heart-warming and comforting tale . . . will be a success with female readers aged 9 and upwards' The School LibrarianAbout the author:Bestselling author Karen McCombie trained as a magazine journalist in her native Scotland before moving to London. After several years working on teen favourites Just 17 and Sugar, she turned to fiction, with her first series, Ally's World, becoming an instant success. In total she's had more than 70 books published and translated around the world, and more than a million books sold.Karen lives in North London with her very Scottish husband Tom, her sunshiney daughter Milly, a demented cat called Dizzy and Biscuit, the button-obsessed hamster.Also available: Angels Next Door, Angels in Training and don't miss Angels Like Me

Angels Like Me is the third title in the enchanting and magical friendship series from bestselling author Karen McCombie that began with Angels Next Door.Riley's best friends, the Angelo sisters, are special. Sparkly, strange and full of secrets . . Life at home is tricky for Riley Roberts. She misses her mum and wants to learn more about her. But Dad is as secretive as ever.She hopes the sisters can work their magic and help her find out the truth. But Riley is about to discover something more magical than she could have imagined - something that could bring her closer to her mum and answer her questions at last.About the author:Bestselling author Karen McCombie trained as a magazine journalist in her native Scotland before moving to London. After several years working on teen favourites Just 17 and Sugar, she turned to fiction, with her first series, Ally's World, becoming an instant success. In total she's had more than 70 books published and translated around the world, and more than a million books sold. Karen lives in North London with her very Scottish husband Tom, her sunshiney daughter Milly, a demented cat called Dizzy and Biscuit, the button-obsessed hamster. Angels Like Me is the third title in her Angels Next Door series.www.karenmccombie.comAlso available: Angels Next Door (book 1)Angels In Training (book 2)Angels Like Me (book 3)

Angels Like Me is the third title in the enchanting and magical friendship series from bestselling author Karen McCombie that began with Angels Next Door.Riley's best friends, the Angelo sisters, are special. Sparkly, strange and full of secrets . . Life at home is tricky for Riley Roberts. She misses her mum and wants to learn more about her. But Dad is as secretive as ever.She hopes the sisters can work their magic and help her find out the truth. But Riley is about to discover something more magical than she could have imagined - something that could bring her closer to her mum and answer her questions at last.About the author:Bestselling author Karen McCombie trained as a magazine journalist in her native Scotland before moving to London. After several years working on teen favourites Just 17 and Sugar, she turned to fiction, with her first series, Ally's World, becoming an instant success. In total she's had more than 70 books published and translated around the world, and more than a million books sold. Karen lives in North London with her very Scottish husband Tom, her sunshiney daughter Milly, a demented cat called Dizzy and Biscuit, the button-obsessed hamster. Angels Like Me is the third title in her Angels Next Door series.www.karenmccombie.comAlso available: Angels Next Door (book 1)Angels In Training (book 2)Angels Like Me (book 3)

Frank is shy and worried about making friends at his new school. He finds a special stone, and names it Stanley. But what will Frank's new classmates think of Stanley Stone? Oxford Reading Tree All Stars is an engaging chapter fiction series which combines age-appropriate content with imaginative stories, perfect for inspiring and stretching able infants. The series develops comprehension skills and provides a wide variety of fiction topics and styles, alongside illustrations that aid understanding.All the books in this series are carefully levelled, so it's easy to match every child to the right book - one which will develop their reading skills and fuel their love of reading. Help with children's reading development is also available at www.oxfordowl.co.uk.

Neighbours Ruby and Jackson get the surprise of their lives when they discover a Thing living at the bottom of their gardens. And when Thing places a curse on the inhabitants of the new house that's been built over his old home, Ruby and Jackson find themselves up to their eyeballs in jellybabies, magic and BIG trouble.I never expected to be friends with a Thing. Well, you don't, do you? You usually think of friends being either boys or girls, or maybe even cute yappy dogs. Well, Thing certainly doesn't fit into any of those categories. Thing is just a... a... Actually, I'm not sure quite how to describe it."A sort of troll crossed with a fairy crossed with a squirrel?" Jackson suggested, after we first discovered Thing."I is not a squirrel," Thing purred grumpily, twitching its squirrelly ears. "And not a fairy or a trolly. Whatever they is."By the way, I never expected to be friends with Jackson Miller either. I guess I've got a bit of explaining to do, about Jackson and about Thing. (Oh, and about curses and jellybabies too, And the magic. I mustn't forget the magic!)Contains charming black and white line illustrations by Alex T. Smith

Want to know a secret? There is something very, very strange living in the trees behind my house. If you tiptoe slowwwwly and quietly (ssh!) to the bottom of my garden, you might hear it rustling and rootling and 'peh!'ing in the dark undergrowth, on the other side of the low stone wall.And if you peek over the wall - holding your breath - there's a chance you could spot two saucer-round eyes blinking out of a strangely square opening in the tree roots . . .Ruby and Jackson get the surprise of their lives when they discover a Thing living at the bottom of their gardens. But Thing is cute, and funny, even if sometimes when he's upset he gets a bit ARRGHH! And that's when the trouble starts. Like the time he comes to school, and Ruby and Jackson find themselves mixed up in a terrible tangle of noodle-doodles!The second in a hilarious new series by best-selling author Karen McCombie, illustrated throughout with irresistable black and white line art by Alex T. Smith.

Ruby and Jackson get the surprise of their lives when they discover a Thing living at the bottom of their gardens. But Thing is cute and funny, even if sometimes, when he's upset, he gets a bit ARRGHH! And that's when the trouble starts. Like the time he goes to a pool party, and Ruby and Jackson find themselves face to face with an enormous inflatable monster...

Want to know a secret? There is something very, very strange living in the trees behind my house. If you tiptoe slowwwwly and quietly (ssh!) to the bottom of my garden, you might hear it rustling and rootling and 'peh!'ing in the dark undergrowth, on the other side of the low stone wall. And if you peek over the wall - holding your breath - there's a chance youcould spot two saucer-round eyes blinking out of a strangely squareopening in the tree roots . . .Ruby and Jackson get the surprise of their lives when they discover a Thing living at the bottom of their gardens. But Thing is cute, and funny, even if sometimes whenit upset it gets a bit ARRGHH!And that's when the trouble starts. Like the time Ruby and Jackson sneak Thing along with them on a school trip to the museum. In case you're wondering, it goes very, badly wrong . . . !

Two great books in one featuring magic, mix-ups and muddles!Join Ruby, Jackson and Thing on not one but two great adventures in this brilliant bumper book.See what havoc Thing causes when Ruby and Jackson sneak it along on a trip to the petting zoo in The Great Expanding Guinea Pig.And in a seasonal spectacular, Thing helps Ruby and Jackson defeat some nasty bullies in Beware of the Snowblobs!

Sometimes being someone new feels amazing. Until it doesn't.Sadie likes things calm, predictable and safe. But spending aweek in a new seaside town, changes everything.When she meets bold, fearless Maz, Sadie is drawn into a worldof new adventures, bigger risks and exciting possibilities. Forthe first time, she starts to imagine being someone different.But as friendships are tested and tensions rise, Sadie must decidehow far she's willing to go to fit in - and whether changingyourself is ever worth the cost.A compelling coming-of-age story about friendship, belonging andstaying true to yourself when everything starts to change.  Every story starts with an open book.'Open book is designed not just to help children getthrough a book - it's to help them feel success and most importantly,to feel the joy of being a reader' Dr Sarah Moseley Developed to be accessible, the books in this series are especiallysupportive for children with diverse needs, including autism,ADHD, speech and language challenges (SLCN), dyspraxia and more.Simple images at the start of each chapter make unfamiliar wordsclear, helping readers build confidence and enjoy reading independentlywith understanding.Supportive layouts with short chapters and predictable structure.Carefully crafted to balance readability with rich, compellingstorytelling, helping more children experience the joy and confidenceof independent reading.High interest but age-appropriate to ensure engagement and challenge.Off-white paper for reduced visual load.Dyslexia-friendly fonts and spacing.  Dr Sarah Moseley is an Educational Adviser, author, researcher,and keynote speaker specialising in literacy, SEND, neurodiversity,and inclusive practice. With over 25 years of experience acrossmainstream, specialist, and alternative education, she supportsschools, trusts, and organisations to create ambitious, accessiblelearning environments that remove barriers, raise aspirations,and enable every learner to thrive. Combining research, leadership,and classroom expertise, Sarah bridges theory and practiceto deliver practical, evidence-informed approaches that improve participation,achievement, and outcomes for all learners.  Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with diverse needs.This series brings together engaging, character-led stories withthoughtful, inclusive design to support a wide range of readers.Why not check out other titles in Scholastic's Open Bookseries!

Nominated for the 2020 CILIP Carnegie MedalBridie lives on the remote Scottish island of Tornish, the youngest of three sisters. Although she loves her island, with its wild seas and big skies, she guiltily nurses a secret dream of flight - to America and the freedom of the New World. But her family are struggling under the spiteful oppression of the new Laird, and it seems that even some of the Laird's own household are desperate to leave. When the Laird's full cruelty becomes apparent, there's no more time for daydreams as Bridie needs to help the people she loves escape to safety.Cover and chapter head illustrations by Jasu Hu. Map illustration by Hannah Horn.The first in a gripping, dramatic new series from much-loved author, Karen McCombie."This involving, evocative tale, narrated by Bridie with a hint of period language, is a study of rich and poor, offering clearly-drawn characters."- Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times, Children's Book of the Week "There's heart in this Scottish adventure. . . This is (Karen's) best. It has a vivid setting, emotional punch and characters to really care about." - Alex O'Connell, The Times, Children's Book of the Week"It may all seem a far cry from the "slushy, gushy love songs" of Ally's World. And yet here, as there, McCombie displays her gift, which is to create a narrator who sounds thoroughly convincing, and to inhabit the consciousness of a child." Emily Bearn, The Telegraph"Little Bird Flies by Karen McCombie is the evocative and beautifully written tale of Bridie (Little Bird) who dreams of a bigger life than the one she's destined for on her tiny Scottish isle of Tornish. With themes of immigration and prejudice and characters you'll root for, this will appeal to fans of Emma Carroll and Marie-Louise Jensen." - Michelle Harrison, author of A Pinch of Magic

A wonderfully warm and touching story of friendship, identity and kindness from top-notch teen author Karen McCombie. Being at home is hard for Hannah. With Mum, Dad and Vix always fighting they've got no time for her or her worries, she might as well be invisible.But when she finds an abandoned diary in the park containing snippets and photographs of the colourful life of the mysterious Sami Star, Hannah hopes she's found the real friend she always needed. Little does Hannah know Sami needs her too… Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Can Meg find her sunshine smile again? A wonderfully warm and wise story about new families and new relationships from bestelling author Karen McCombie. Meg is the girl with the sunshine smile. That's what they call her at the wedding fairs where she models her mum's dresses. But then Mum meets Danny. Danny, with the grotty houseboat, four sons and a three-legged cat. All of a sudden, Meg's life clouds over. Will Meg ever find her sunshine smile again? A brand-new low reading age edition of a wonderfully warm and wise story about new families and new relationships from bestselling author Karen McCombie. Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 7.

Pioneering aviatrix Dolly Shepherd comes alive in this thrilling reimagining of her death-defying exploits from bestelling author Karen McCombie. When sixteen-year-old Dolly Shepherd is offered the chance to take to the sky in a hot-air balloon, there’s no way she’s going to turn it down. Even though the pilot actually plans for her to jump out of the balloon and plummet back to earth using just a flimsy parachute.For Dolly, it’s the start of a sensational career. But the life of an aeronaut is as dangerous as it is daring, and there will be many narrow escapes along the way … Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Granny’s hunt for the perfect pet brings some unexpected results in this goofy adventure of family, mudlarking and mayhem. Zac and Essie have been helping their Granny Mo in her search for the perfect pet. She’s tried everything from cats to axolotls and just can’t find the right one. But when the trio go mudlarking in the river bank they find a creature unlike anything else … Granny Mo might have set out looking for a pet but now she’s got a monster on her hands, and it’s about to get up to some mischief! Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 7.

Who said friends have to match to matter?When the Star Boy's space-pod crashes in the grounds of Fairfield Academy he knows he must seek shelter. Taking refuge in the school's boiler room to await rescue he discovers that the room's small window is the perfect place to watch humans go by.The Star Boy knows about humans from his Earth lessons but no one from his planet has ever studied them up close. Now he has the perfect opportunity. There are two humans in particular that catch his attention - a boy called Wes and a girl named Kiki. But as his curiosity grows so does his courage and, making a momentous decision, the Star Boy follows Wes and Kiki into class . and into their lives.A warm and otherworldly story about finding friendship in the most unlikely of places, for fans of Tamsin Winter, Cath Howe and Ross Welford.